Cittie of Yorke

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3 out of 5 stars

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(10)

3 out of 5 stars

About

3 out of 5 stars

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The copper sign swinging over pedestrians on High Holborn speaks of ‘beer brewed at Yorkshire’s oldest brewery’; the sign just out from a mock-Tudor façade above reads ‘established on the site of a public house in 1430’.

So far, so faux, but the interior is authentically dingy, wobbly and warren-like, the kind of place in which to film a period drama. The main room is lined with conspiratorial dark wood alcoves, with old barrels over the long bar and framed portraits from Vanity Fair c.1870. Bright labels advertising beers and ales from the Sam Smith’s stable bring some colour to the brown tableau, a counter of taps (Alpine Lager, Pure Brewed Lager, Old Brewery Bitter) abutted by a food display (steak and ale pie, beef suet pudding). A cellar bar embellished with mounted caricatures and a smaller bar by the main door both offer intimacy.

Been,around late morning, several times over several visits to London, the first over 10 years ago (when one could smoke indoors) and the last twice in April of 2014. Each time I found the bar staff, whether male or female, thoroughly pleasant and cheerful. The atmosphere, with varied seating arrangements, including the cozy framed-in booths is welcoming.The Samuel Smith's excellent. Did not eat there, so no opinion. A relaxing spot to have a fine ale while getting organized for tourism. I've seen all the comments on a "rude manager". Only staff I've interacted with were quite the opposite. Photo is of the tiles in the Men's. Even they were pleasing!

Fantastic-looking pub with the RUDEST service I have ever experienced in London. I have a question for the owners - are you training your staff to be as obnoxious as possible? What is wrong with you?
I looked at this site before going thinking perhaps the many reviews describing the manager were perhaps outdated (the bad reviews started 2011 and last one was from 2012) and you had sorted things out. Well, we don't know if we had the "pleasure" of meeting the manager but the two individuals we interacted with made sure that WE WILL NEVER RETURN. NEVER.

Lovely cozy interior, not too crowded even on Friday lunchtime ... too good to be true? Unfortunately so. Despite only serving own brand everything (it's a bit like the Wickes of the pub world), its a pretty decent place .. until you meet the bar manager. He was abnoxious, rude, lacking in any social skills, no sense of humour and totally unhelpful. He seemed to have a complete contempt for his customers. We certainly will not be going back, ever!

Unbelievably rude manager. Managed to put me off going on the phone before I even stepped foot in the pub. I phoned to see if they serve food and was shocked by his rude reply. I will be complaining to the brewery first thing in the morning. I thought pubs were looking for custom but reading the reviews it looks like the manager here is trying to do the exact opposite. If I could put zero stars I would!